State of the FPOTF/NOOO (xpost from fpotf)

[pearwaldorf]

(Hi! A community exists specifically for the Fandom Platform of the Future/Network of Our Own/whatever we're going to call it now: fpotf . It's broadcast-only at this point but anybody can subscribe for updates.)

This is an attempt to identify and centralize sources of information/places of discussion related to the Fandom Platform of the Future/Network of Our Own. Stuff is Happening, and in a ton of different places. 

[edit:] Added a couple links and the Trello.

Discussion spaces
distributed_fandom Discord (federated social network discussion, tech and policy stuff thereof) (private-ish, lurkers welcome; message fandom-after  for link)
post_tumblr_fandom (broad-based discussion about all this shizz)
fandom-after Compilation of Tumblr commentary about The Impending Purge

Keeping track
I have created a Trello board to give a high-level overview of things I am aware of. Let me know if you think I'm missing anything.

Static but useful info
Features list by software (read-only)
Policy/TOS considerations (comments on)
The Doc (read-only)

Next Steps
PD (aka FFA NO3 anon) is compiling a list of questions for an Actual Lawyer (comments welcome) to look at. Contents include:

• liability re: image hosting
• compliance with laws in countries where visual depictions of sexualized minors are illegal
• service provider liability re: 2257 laws, possible interactions with GDPR
• FOSTA/SESTA liability re: hosting sexually explicit images
• interaction between DMCA safe harbor provisions and tip jars/paid commissions (based upon presumption of fanworks being not-for-profit)
• organizational structure stuff and how it interacts with liability

They have not put out any sort of funding mechanism for the consulting fee but if/when they do I will link it here.

People on the Discord have been writing code for Hubzilla and putting together public demos of some of the federated social media software available. Nothing to look at yet, but soon!

Comments

[duskpeterson]

(Not sure whether I should be replying here or at fpotf, but . . .)

"interaction between DMCA safe harbor provisions and tip jars/paid commissions (based upon presumption of fanworks being not-for-profit)"

May I ask whether we're envisioning something that is entirely noncommercial, like AO3? I ask because there are writers in fandom (originalfic writers, historicalfic writers, etc.) who do both noncommercial and commercial work. It's one thing to not be able to reference commercial work at a noncommercial archive; it's something else entirely to not be able to mention it on a social media platform.

[pearwaldorf]

(I have disabled comments over there to centralize discussion here)

Insomuch as there is an organizational structure/persons/people (which is to say, uh, me), I personally envision it as a co-op type organization, where people can buy into the company (payout would be like paid accounts or such) but also have free accounts. So basically it is a for-profit organization, but only so much profit can be paid out and the rest has to be plowed back/reinvested into the org.

I considered a B corp, but it still didn't feel quite right, because corporations of all sorts exist to make profits first and foremost, even if they're required to give back in the charter. Co-ops exist for the benefit of their members, and are self-sustaining in a way non-profits aren't.

Please keep in mind this is all incredibly elaborate spitballing and I am not a lawyer, so I might be getting some of the details wrong. But based upon what I know this seems feasible.

[duskpeterson]

Thanks for clarifying!

[mecurtin]

I still don't understand why it should be for-profit instead of non-profit. We don't want or need profits from this and they'll just cause trouble. Why not stick to one of the non-profit forms?

[allochthon]

I just finished reading the "Fandom platform of the future - specs and features" google doc, and it reminded me of a few things. I couldn't find a place here on P-T-F that was appropriate to all of them, so I posted over on my own journal. But comments are probably better here?

[alyndra]

Commenting here, then! (I came so close to just commenting there. You should disable comments there if you mean it.)

Check out dw_suggestions for another example of feature requesting/voting. It’s languished a little lately but there’s definitely some interesting stuff.

I saw an idea to let people just add emoji to posts instead of trying to figure out the three best words for ‘like’. It works pretty great in Discord.

[mecurtin]

I'm glad to see a list of lawyer-questions being put together so soon, the answers will shape a lot of the direction we go.

Could we ask for consultation from OTW's Legal Team? From the EFF? Those two orgs are going to have the deepest understanding of the issues and have an idea of where we're coming from, more than any single law office.

[powerful_dusk_88623]

Hi, I'm the person coordinating the list of legal questions. I've mentioned this here previously, but I did reach out to the OTW Legal team and have not heard any response back. I was put in touch with the lawyer I'm reaching out to via an inquiry to the EFF. The EFF stated that they do not do direct legal advice unless they choose to represent a case with active litigation, and for all other cases they refer inquiries to attorneys in private practice (or in this case, an attorney who is an instructor at a university law clinic).

[mecurtin]

OK! I'm going to reach out to rivkat, who may also be able to help or direct us to someone who can. We probably need 2 opinions, especially given the international law aspects.